26 Hopes for 2026

Despite Six Flags officially stating Canada’s Wonderland would receive a record-breaking water attraction in 2026, as far as we know there won’t be any new ride or major new attraction this year after all. This marks the ninth operating season in the park’s history without a new ride or water attraction. But as we look forward to the start of the 2026 season, what can Canada’s Wonderland do to make sure this year is better than 2025 for all its guests, employees, and long-term business prospects?

Please note: Halloween Haunt, Camp Spooky, and WinterFest are hugely important, but each deserves its own dedicated list of improvements, so I won’t be mentioning them here.

1) Minebuster Refurbishment

It seems Minebuster will receive a second round of The Gravity Group’s track replacement, this time around the helix! This should provide a little extra tHrILL! Based on 2025, I expect the park will reveal more details officially as we get closer to opening day, and hopefully Minebuster in its new form will be ready for riders at the start of the season.

Desire: High
Likelihood: All but officially confirmed

2) Flight Deck Trains

I’m not sure how much I can say about this, but let’s just say “rumour has it” Canada’s Wonderland picked up a newer train or two for Flight Deck (formerly known as Top Gun).

Desire: Low
Likelihood: All but officially confirmed

3) Sweet Shoppe Renovation

It seems a contractor may have spilled the jelly beans on a Sweet Shoppe renovation. From what I’ve seen, it’s appears to be a substantial update to the interior. After seeing what the park did with Wonderland Store’s interior a couple years ago, I’m really looking forward to seeing the extent of the changes.

Desire: Low
Likelihood: All but officially confirmed

4) Theatre Upgrades

While I’ll continue banging the drum of Playhouse Theatre in KidZville needing a roof or shade structure over its stage to ensure performances happen more consistently regardless of weather, I’m not sure it’s a priority for the park this year.

However there is one theatre upgrade confirmed via an article by Mix Online. Canterbury Theatre will receive a new audio system, replacing the previous three-decade-old system. This should provide clearer sound for audience members regardless of their seat, which is especially important for more story-driven, voice/dialogue-heavy shows such as Tinker’s Toy Factory during WinterFest.

Desire: BEGGING (Playhouse); Low (Canterbury)
Likelihood: Don’t count on it (Playhouse); Confirmed (Canterbury)

5) Paint and Polish!

Thanks to a post from the park, we know Antique Carrousel is undergoing a multi-year restoration effort as it nears its 100th anniversary! Some of the horses are being stripped down to the wood, then freshly painted and polished in their original colours. This is wonderful to see for such an historic ride!

Of course there are other rides which could use some repainting as well, such as Drop Tower and the 18-year-old Behemoth, which has not had its track repainted once since it opened. But with no signs of progress or word from the park, I think it’s safe to expect any rides receiving full repainting will be on the smaller side.

Desire: Moderate
Likelihood: Confirmed (Antique Carrousel); possible (for smaller rides).

6) Variety of Dining Locations

This will have to be a separate post (or several) because I have so much to say about the food, but I’ll keep it to the headlines for now—

Ensure a variety of food options by keeping Grande World Eatery open; open up half of All’s Well Hall for regular guests; keep Grab & Go’s salads, wraps, and sandwiches always available for those with more specialized diets; and reopen some kind of food service at the former La Cantina location.

Desire: High
Likelihood: Not in this economy…

7) Menus

Dining locations being open is one thing, but obviously there needs to be good options at each one as well. With a park like Wonderland, the food has to be unique enough to keep people from going across the street and getting the same type of food for half the price.

The park could make the most popular Oktoberfest items permanent parts of AlpenFest, possibly replacing Grab & Go (whose items should be available from every major restaurant’s fridges). A massive “Feast Burger” from the recently-remodelled King’s Feast could be (literally and promotionally) huge! Grande World Eatery could also use one iconic dish served year round for consistency, similar to the Lodge’s popular beef brisket (though obviously distinct from that). My vote goes to the amazing chicken parmigiana served for a limited time last fall!

Desire: BEGGING!
Likelihood: Possible

8) Ride Availability

I know we’ve been spoiled at Wonderland over the years, but the park’s built a reputation for excellence. Seeing rides and attractions which typically draw long lines (The Bat, Snoopy’s Racing Railway, Splash Works, etc.) shifting to later daily opening times is disheartening. That goes double for the rides which had scheduled (but not communicated) weekday closures for parts of the summer. I’m not blaming the park in any way because I know budgets are tight and these decisions aren’t made lightly. I’m just expressing my desire to see fewer closed rides in 2026.

Desire: Moderate
Likelihood: Not in this economy…

9) Funnel Cakes

I really struggled with where to place this one. It’s an easy fix and I truly believe a simple post/announcement about returning to “the park’s famous funnel cake recipe” would result in higher sales and higher guest satisfaction. (I for one won’t be getting any more until I hear something’s changed.) I am absolutely begging for the park to return to the original funnel cake batter recipe, which gave the park such a perfect end-of-night treat!

Desire: BEGGING!
Likelihood: Probably depends how many comments mention it to guest services and in surveys… *wink wink, nudge nudge*

10) Lockers

I understand the pay-per-use lockers on AlpenFury because every little operational efficiency the park can find for this attraction is mandatory. I still don’t like them, but I understand.

But Yukon Striker, which has an award-winning loose article system built into the station? There’s absolutely no reason for the lockers here. Especially when it means losing the larger bins, causing more difficulty with guests retrieving their articles after the ride. And oversized items that couldn’t fit in the bin conveyor are still an issue since the lockers are much smaller than the old bins! This just causes fewer guests to ride one of the park’s signature attractions.

The lockers are bad for guests, stressful for employees, and don’t result in significantly higher ridership (according to the park’s own numbers). I sincerely hope the park reverses this decision and removes the locker policy at Yukon Striker.

Desire: BEGGING
Likelihood: Possible

11) Throwing Shade

When AlpenFury first opened, the park put up signs assuring guests a shade structure was coming. When the shade structure arrived, it proved… less than optimal. There are long stretches which still don’t receive any shade and there are gaps for the parts that do.

Something is better than nothing, but this setup is woefully insufficient. I’m desperately hoping the park at least adds more shade to the portions which don’t have any current protection, and maybe they can be blue and orange to more closely fit the fire and ice theme.

While we’re at it, can Sledge Hammer, Backlot Stunt Coaster, and maybe Klockwerks or Riptide also get shade structures of some kind? Maybe stealing the rarely used one from Lumberjack’s already tree-covered queue?

Desire: BEGGING!
Likelihood: Possible

12) Trees

On the note of trees, could we get some new ones in 2026? Some areas that seem like good candidates: the border of International Showplace (on either side of AlpenFury’s track); Action Zone (around Sledge Hammer’s southwest border); permanent ones around Arthur’s Baye (replacing the boxed trees); the infield of Snoopy’s Racing Railway (which had some removed in the past year); all around Shockwave (I miss them and they would help hide AlpenFury’s backstage area); around Swing of the Century (they really made the ride experience special); maybe some evergreens in Splash Works (especially around Moosehorn Falls and on the slopes around Minebuster); and the area under/around the Skyflyer Loop (and plaza).

Desire: BEGGING!
Likelihood: Probable (to some degree)

13) Entertainment

The park’s entertainment quality is always spectacular, but I think Arthur’s Baye and Canterbury Theatre could be switched up this year. Castaways was a huge improvement over the previous show, but it’s still lacking a good storyline. When Cirque Ambiente returned a couple years ago, it really emphasized to me how much the cirque shows have improved since first introduced at the park. Either going to another former show (Tundra, Dimensions, or Cirque Canadien) or a brand new iteration could be quite refreshing!

I also miss the rotating lineup at International Showplace. Having each show last just a few weeks worked really well for a park like Wonderland with such a high season pass-holder base.

Desire: High
Likelihood: Possible (to some degree)

14) Thunder Run

There are a few ways Thunder Run could be improved through additional theming and what better time than the 40th anniversary of it being added to Wonder Mountain? The new ground level exit cavern is excellent, but the bare bones stairwell really needs the same look to maintain the illusion. The lighting on Herman could also be improved, plus maybe a return of the “heartbeat” sound effect?

But honestly the most glaring issue (no pun intended) is the sunlight pouring into the otherwise pitch dark interior. This is due to gaps in a wooden wall next to the ride’s initial straight stretch of track, just outside the station. Sealing these gaps would be a quick and inexpensive way to greatly enhance the ride experience.

Desire: BEGGING!
Likelihood: Doubtful (I’m not sure they even know it’s an issue.)

15) AlpenFury’s Tunnel

I had very high hopes for what AlpenFury’s tunnel could look like, but sadly it didn’t even live up to my low expectations of what it would look like. If the whole tunnel looked like the dive into the mountain, that would have been perfect! If there was a gust of cold air as you enter and hot air as you exited, that would be neat! If the shaft was significantly narrower, that would at least be much better than what we got. If the stalagmites and stalactites lined most of the track, that would be acceptable.

But instead, like a lot of the ride, it feels rushed and unfinished. I really hoped it was just that and we’d see more details added during this off-season, but after speaking with park officials, I’m all but certain we’re stuck with the warehouse.

Desire: BEGGING!
Likelihood: When AlpenFest freezes over (then thaws for some unexplained reason)

16) Fencing

I actually have two mini points here—

First: Replace the temporary, scrim-covered construction fencing with some permanent, World Expo style fencing around the Skyflyer Loop. (This can be paired with those trees I asked for earlier, plus some themed lampposts for that plaza.)

Second: Some of the new-for-2025 fencing is great, like AlpenFury’s queue stairs and the “high security” tall metal fences that look a bit like skis (seen above). But what happened with the rest of these fences? And why are they painted grey?

What was wrong with the decorative metal posts with chains characteristic of the area before? I love the fencing throughout Frontier Canada, and I think it even works pretty well around Snoopy’s Racing Railway, but can we please give AlpenFest some more thematically unique (and consistent) fencing?

Desire: High
Likelihood: Probably stuck with Frontier fencing for both areas…

17) Bins at bag check

The bag check area introduced in 2024 is a massive improvement over the old layout! My only real criticisms are with the actual metal detectors process. At other parks, this process works a lot like an airport, with guests placing their small bags and loose articles in a bin which security personnel pull along the table to the other side of the metal detectors. With multiple bins per table, each person/group can use a separate bin. This keeps everything together and keeps the line moving more smoothly. This is also improved by longer tables so guests can set their loose articles and bags down earlier, giving them more time to prepare and make sure they’ve removed all metallic items from their pockets before approaching the metal detectors. Theoretically, this could also cause fewer “false detections” from people moving their objects too close to the apparatus when setting items down on the table.

It’s a small change (longer tables with bins for small bags and loose articles), but it could significantly increase speed of entry.

Desire: Moderate
Likelihood: Possible, but probably not on their radar

18) Signs

The sign shop does great work, truly! But there are some things that don’t quite work. Like the typos on the posters in Grande World Eatery that still haven’t been fixed. And the way-finding signs throughout the park which are mostly generic instead of blending into the respective themed areas. Don’t even get me started on the disturbing Jokey’s Jalopies sign…

But probably the biggest standout for me is the shop on the northeast corner of International Street. It was The Locker Room, then became the terribly named “Thrills Are Wonderland.” But for some reason it still has signs up which read “The Varsity Club.” I’m really hoping this location can figure out its identity crisis (please not as “Thrills Are Wonderland”) and get some appropriate exterior signage.

Desire: Low
Likelihood: Possible, but probably not on their radar

19) New Names

A new name for existing attractions can really help build a cohesive themed area. Sadly The Fly and Shockwave remained unchanged as a new anchor ride sprouted right between them, bringing with it an area with ties to other existing attractions. Maybe we could see The Fly and Shockwave receive new names this year to better fit into AlpenFest?

Of course there are still rides in other parts of the park which could also use a change to better fit their respective themed area. Candidates include Riptide, Drop Tower, Spinovator, and Speed City Raceway in Medieval Faire; Flight Deck in World Expo; half of KidZville; and maybe the entirety of Action Zone so it fits better with the rest of the park’s themed areas.

Desire: Low
Likelihood: Possible (to some degree)

20) AlpenFest Theming

Maybe I’m cheating by having this as a different listing, but Klockwerks and Krachenwagen definitely don’t need new names so they get their own entry! The biggest thing with Klockwerks is adding some gears on the fencing and queue, plus maybe replacing any arrow signs with clock hands. Some new paint could also help it blend a bit better with AlpenFury, but I’m not sure that’s really necessary.

For Krachenwagen, the roof should absolutely receive the faux wood shakes to match the rest of AlpenFest. Some updated signs could also help people understand the “one way” nature of the ride, though I would miss the snowflakes. That goes for the whole area; those snowflakes are iconic, but I feel there might be a better way to convey the Alps theme. Probably easier to add some snowflakes to AlpenFury’s buildings for consistency, though.

Desire: Moderate
Likelihood: Possible (to some degree)

21) Festivals

I don’t have much hope we’ll see four straight weekends of cultural food festivals return anytime soon, but I hope we can get at least one new festival this year. With its wide array of entertainment garnering most (if not all) of the praise, maybe the Food & Wine Festival could shift to more of a “Festival of the Arts” this year?

I’m really more interested in seeing a “Taste” festival return, if only so there are a few more meal options to keep things fresh in the later part of the summer. However, considering the Great Brew-B-Q was announced for last year before being quietly removed from the calendar, forgive me if I’m a bit skeptical the company will be willing to invest in a brand new festival for 2026.

Desire: Moderate
Likelihood: Doubtful

22) Restaurant Renovations

Over the past few years, it’s become pretty common to see major dining location renovations, with Coaster’s Diner, Grande World Eatery, and King’s Feast all receiving more efficient “cafeteria-style” service. There are two more locations at the park I think could use a similar treatment: Chicken Shack and Roadside Chicken. Of these, I’d rather see Chicken Shack get the overhaul, though this is largely motivated by a desire to see a shade structure built over the south patio (which could be converted into a much-needed warm up station during WinterFest). Although the renovation at King’s Feast didn’t even include a waterproof roof to replace the current leaky one, so I’m going to throw that under this heading as well.

TL;DR – New shade structure for Chicken Shack’s south patio, new roof for the patio next to King’s Feast, and converting either Chicken Shack or Roadside Chicken to an indoor, cafeteria-style setup.

Desire: Moderate
Likelihood: Probable

23) Refresh Centres

Considering how busy the location next to Coaster’s Diner always seems to be, it might be worth bringing back the Refresh Centre attached to Crystal Palace Arcade or adding a new one around Sledge Hammer. But maybe it’s better to wait until Time Warp’s land sees a new attraction.

We also have Roadside Chicken, which is frequently lined with people just wanting a drink. The next closest Refresh Centres are in front of Splash Works, by Lazy Bear Lodge, or at the far end of Planet Snoopy. School House Snacks and Treetop Cafe function decently for pop and ICEE refills respectively, but having a proper Refresh Centre around this area would be more efficient operationally and serve guests better.

Desire: High
Likelihood: Possible

24) All the Single Riders

Although I’m not a single rider as often as I used to be, I still appreciate being a seat filler, boosting the throughput of my favourite rides while potentially getting on faster than if I waited in the regular line. Yukon Striker and AlpenFury were both built with single rider lines, and Behemoth was retrofitted with one which I think works very well! But Leviathan is a bit trickier due to the layout of the queue as it is. Hopefully the park can manage to fit a single-rider line to make sure one of the park’s most popular attractions runs as efficiently as possible, especially with its four-across seating.

Desire: High
Likelihood: Don’t get your hopes up…

25) Simplify the Technology

I would love if Six Flags focussed a lot less on technology (outside of rides). I don’t need mobile ordering when most of the locations are cafeteria-style. I don’t want to be blinded by screens along the midways, reminding me to download the app. I definitely don’t want to scan unmonitored QR codes. (Look up “quishing schemes” for more about the dangers of scanning QR codes in public spaces.) And I am desperately hoping Wonderland never moves to a Fast Lane system requiring the mobile app like some other Six Flags parks introduced this year. (I don’t even use Fast Lane, but I see several issues with that kind of system.)

During my park visits, I want to spend time enjoying the outdoors, away from the screens I’m inundated with every other moment of my life.

Having said all that, I have just one requested feature for the Six Flags mobile app: An open/closed indicator for dining locations. Having restaurant hours or menus would be incredible, but at minimum, tell me what’s open and what’s closed. When someone’s hungry and they walk across the park to get a specific meal, you really don’t want to make them angry.

Desire: BEGGING!
Likelihood: Don’t get your hopes up…

26) Teasers for 2027

Since the park didn’t receive any major new “capital” this year, I hope we’ll see at least one new ride or attraction added in 2027. There’s no guarantee of that, especially with the current state of Six Flags’ financials, but for the sake of this point, let’s assume the park is working on something.

It might be the “record-breaking water attraction” previously announced for 2026, or it may be something completely different. I don’t know if we’ll see construction in the spring or summer, but I do hope we at least get some teasers before any official announcement.

The extent of the teasers should be relative to the size of the project, but even a couple rides for the kids’ park could see a small campaign a couple weeks out from the announcement.

I love studying teasers, trying to reverse engineer why the communications team came up with those specific visuals and that specific release schedule for the posts. Surprises like Tundra Twister can be really fun, but my brain just loves trying to solve the mystery of a well-designed teaser.

Desire: High
Likelihood: Probable (to some extent)

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Whether it’s on this list or not, submit a comment with the changes you’d most like to see this year at Canada’s Wonderland!